Man damages temple idol after wife doesn’t return home

A 37-year-old man was arrested on Sunday after he allegedly damaged an idol of Lord Hanuman at a temple in Palda area here, police said.

Manoj Banjara (37) was arrested for damaging the idol at the ancient Khedapati Hanuman temple here, City Superintendent of Police Shashikant Kankane said.

“Banjara is not in the right frame of mind. His wife had gone to her parents’ home following a tiff about four months back. According to Banjara, when he did not succeed in bringing his wife back despite all efforts, he then prayed to Lord Hanuman seeking some miracle that she may come back.

“As per Banjara, when his wife did not return despite all his prayers, he broke the Lord Hanuman’s idol in anger last night,” the SP said.

Manoj has been arrested and booked, he said, adding that further investigation in the matter is on.

Meanwhile, RSS’s Dharm Jagran Vibhag local unit convenor Vinod Mishra expressed dissatisfaction over police action and demanded a high-level probe into the incident.

He alleged that that police arrested Manoj in order to save their skin.

The idol damage incident sparked tension in Palda area in view of which police force was deployed there.

Members of some right wing organisations flocked the temple this morning demanding strict police action in the case immediately.